THE KIDE FOUNDATION

The Kide Foundation is an independent foundation that supports individuals and groups that are in the most vulnerable position in society. It creates solutions for situations in which people find themselves needing help for one reason or another. The Kide Foundation co-operates with different partners to strengthen the conditions that facilitate dignified living, encourage participation and promote social responsibility and social justice.

The Foundation supports and carries out projects that provide aid to manage everyday life within the Finnish institution context. In addition Kide Foundation provides assistance to find a job or to start education or a hobby. Further, the Foundation can provide housing in specific situations. Above these tasks the Kide Foundation participates in social debate to promote foundations’ objectives.

The Foundation was established in 2016 by Paavo Voutilainen, Chair of the Board. It was established with the support of Barona Group. Projects are financed in co-operation with different actors, including the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organizations, the Antti and Tytti Penttilä Fund and the Cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa and private companies.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

OUR PROJECTS

The Kide foundation has three ongoing projects during 2024. Please read more about the projects below.

Hope for the Future

Challenging situations in life and feelings of exclusion and hopelessness make young people vulnerable to the influence of extremist movements. The Hope for the Future project (Toivoa Tulevaisuuteen) was launched to prevent this type of progression and to strengthen young people’s trust and inclusion in society. The target group includes both legal residents and undocumented migrants. Young people targeted through outreach work are provided with pathways into society through personalised expert advice, recreational opportunities, subsidised intermediate rented housing and tailored support for employment and training. We rent out accommodation to young people and provide them with the support they need to succeed in housing.

Hope for the Future project started already in 2017. The Kide Foundation piloted the project's operating models with private funding in 2017-2019 and with a grant from the City of Espoo's Social and Health Services Board in 2019. The City of Espoo has funded the project in 2020 and 2021. The project received three-year funding from STEA for 2020-2022 and additional annual funding for 2023. From 2024, Hope for the Future function will be implemented with an operating grant from STEA.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Wael +358 505753152 (Arabic, English, Finnish)
Eeli +358 503680349 (Finnish, English)
Gabriela +358 505512210 (Finnish, English)

The best times to reach us are by phone on Mondays and Fridays between 12pm and 3pm. You can contact us through Whatsapp as well.

On Wednesdays, The Kide Foundation has open doors from 9am to 3pm, so you can come without an appointment!

NOTE! Wednesday walk-in is closed from 28.5.2025 to 30.7.2025! The next walk-in will be on 6.8.2025! Meetings by appointment only until summer 2025.

Power for LiFE

The project brings karate, a martial art that emphasises body and mind control, to support children and their families suffering from neuropsychiatric or post-traumatic symptoms. The aim is to increase the well-being of children and their families, improve their social situation, prevent social exclusion and radicalisation, and improve their self-esteem, physical fitness and self-expression skills.

Karate's philosophy of clear rules of respect and behaviour emphasises respect for others, safe group dynamics and control of one's own reactions. Training takes place weekly in groups with other children of the same age in a safe gym environment at The Kide Foundation premises in Kontula, under the guidance of qualified coaches. A café service is available for parents and friends of children participating in the activities during the training sessions. In addition to weekly training sessions, we organise summer camps for children.

The Kide Foundation piloted the project with private funding in 2017-2019. During the pilot period, the effects of karate training on children's neuropsychiatric symptoms and rehabilitation were monitored in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Turku.

The project is currently funded by STEA. The project received its first three-year STEA grant in 2020, and from 2023 onwards, the activities will continue to be funded by STEA. The project is implemented in cooperation with Wellbeing services county of Vantaa and Kerava, City of Helsinki and the Deaconess Foundation’s Centre for Psychotraumatology.

AT HOME IN KONTULA

At home in Kontula project increases the well-being and inclusion of families that are at risk of social exclusion in East Helsinki. Families are offered support, information and guidance on different every day issues such as children’s’ schooling and wellbeing, and the support services for children and families. In addition, recreational activities, support groups and educational events are also organized in co-operation with the the other organizations in Kontula area. The project is funded by the city on Helsinki.

The project works in a multidisciplinary cooperation with other operators in the region and with the social sectors in the region. The project will be implemented in cooperation with the social services and schools in the Kontula area.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Amira +358 503781809 (Finnish, English)

 THE OFFICE

Kontulankaari 24 00940 Helsinki

The Kide Foundation office is located in Kontulankaari, right next to the main bus stop of the 94 bus.

Here’s a link to Google Maps!

Office opening hours:

Monday: (by appointment)

Tuesday: 12-15 (by appointment)

Wednesday: 09-15 (open doors, no appointment necessary)

Thursday 09-15 (by appointment)

Friday: (closed)

On Wednesdays we have open doors, so Wednesday is a walk-in day. You can come to our office without an appointment and we serve on a first-come, first-served basis. So be prepared to wait. If you would like to make an appointment, please contact our staff.

NOTE! Wednesday walk-in is closed from 28.5.2025 to 30.7.2025! The next walk-in will be on 6.8.2025! Meetings by appointment only until summer 2025.

For appointments:

At home in Kontula: 050 3781809 (Amira)

Hope for the Future: 050 3680 349 (Eeli), 050 575 3152 (Wael) and 050 551 2210 (Gabriela).